The Social Development Ministry is urging persons and entities to be on the alert for fraudulent grant cheques.

This follows an increase in reports of counterfeit cheques targeting Senior Citizens Pension, as well as Disability and Public Assistance Grants.

The Ministry is advising supermarkets, groceries and District Revenue Offices to exercise heightened vigilance while processing grant cheques.

It says all vendors and financial institutions should undertake rigorous verification processes before accepting cheques for payment, as enhanced scrutiny is essential to safeguard their business from losses due to fraudulent transactions.

It adds that any suspected presentation of counterfeit cheques should be reported immediately to the TTPS.

The Ministry says while it has successfully implemented measures to combat counterfeit cheque fraud over the past year, it is imperative to reiterate that any cheque determined to be counterfeit will not be honoured by the Central Bank.

It also continues to urge grant recipients to register for Direct Deposit Services, which ensures that clients receive their grants promptly and eliminates exposure to fraudulent cheque activity.